Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-11
9aitv gress and aaaotaiaa
G. A. r. ENCAMPMENT.
Making Arrangements for
the Coming National
Event at st. Louis.
Thursday, Sept. 27. the Time Of the
Grand Parade-An Enormous
Attendance Of Old Vets
Looked fo-.

MADISON, Wis, Aug. i6.-Col. E. B.
Gray, adjutant general OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic, has issued the fol-
lowing special circular to the national
aides-de-camp, of whom there are a great
many in the countryt
The parade customary at national en-.
campments Is supposed to represent the
arrival of the veterans Mt the place of
meeting. This year 1t will be part,cf-
pated in by the Grand Army men alone
and will occur Tuesday, Sept. 81, as 10 a.
M. National aides who join the parade
viii be mounted, wearing uniform, G. A. r..
hat, with gold cord, or car, blouse, and
dark pantaloons. Each aide will pay. for
his w mount So. 90.
The circular goes on to state that O
large number Of horses have already boen
engaged In st. Louis, and that the caval-
cade will mount on the south front OF the
Southern hotel, on Elm street, being In
command of Sr. Abide Camp Phil Cheek
Jr., of Madison, who is directed to march
1t in column of Tours Immediately in the
rear OF the national officers and personal
staff OF the eommander-in-chief.
The cavalcade will be led by the armed
49, eh0 IL ~. IL. VI
Mass, which is composed exclusively Of
old soldiers, and which in marching exc
cltes all kinds of epolntions, forming the
Grand Army badge, the letters G. A. r.
and many other difficult figures, with a
rapidly and precision which are wonder
fuL. Then will come COMMUNICATIVE
Chief Fairchild, together with the other
national officers and personal staff of the
commander-in-chief, mounted as follows:
5. w. Backus, S. V.C., San Francisco.
Cal; Edgar Allen, j. v. c., Richmond,
VA. Ambrose Everett, S.. e., Denver,
Cole. +. @. Warner, chaplain-in-chief.
Chattanooga, Tenn; John Taylor, Q. M.
e., Philadelphia, Penn. JacobM. Hunter
y. Ct, Cincinnati, Ohio; Henry E. Taintor,
ia. e., Hartford, Conn. IL. b. Gray,
adJatant- general, Madison, Wis; +. w.
Oakley, A. A.. g., Madison, Wis; and
Phil Cheek, Jr., sen A. d. C., Madison,
WIS. The mounted aides, In uniform,
Will follow, preceding the varions de-
partments in the order of their seniority /,
=..sa department Of Missouri, representing
the host, leading bands, d~rum-corps, etc.
Will be located at proper places In the
cayalcade.
There are thirty-eight Grand Army de-
parfnlents In the union, composed Of
5000 posts and a50, 900 members. 1t is
expected that there will be an enormous
attendance at the encampment, with
every state ana territory represented. By
lar the greater number of veterans will
come from the northwestern states. Ohio,
with its 5S4 posts aud a.6,0 600 members:
Illinois, with its COZ posts and 25.748
members; Indiana, with its .497 posts and
20,al5 members; Michigan, with its 304
posts and 1881 members; Iowa, with,
itsais posts and 1851 members, Kan.
sas, with its 403 posts md II, 100 mem.
hers; Wisconsin. with it's 900 posts and
y 1888 members; Missouri, with its 500
posts and II sol members, aud Nebraska,
with Its a23 posts and 1850 members,
will, OF course, send the largest delega-
tions.
In this connection 1t may be interest
singto state that the first Grand Army
post ever organized was that ut Decatur,
III, Wifich essins into existence April O,
lS6b, through the efforts Of b. f. Steph-
enson,, who subsequently, wretd the ritual
now used by the order and who today il
regarded as THE father of the Grand
Army, The second was Caasiis Fair
child Post, No. I, of Madison. Wis. OF
ganisedsJune 10, 1866, whose name was
atterssard changed to G. g. Washburn
Pest, No. III. The Wisconsin department
enjoys the homer of having been the first
IN the country. II was organized June i,
1906, by the election Of James X. Proud.
fit Of Madison department commander,
even before there was a post in the state.
The Illinois department. which has here
tofore enjoyed the distinction of being
the initial organization of the Kind, was
not orme until July III, 1865, when
Sen. John NJ, Palmer was chosen depart
Inent co mmander.